Hose or pipe coupler



Oct. 13, 1931. E. E. GOLD 1,826,770

' HOSE OR PIPE COUPLER Filed May 20. 1927 v1 nyz.

INVENTOR By A ltorneys,

Patented Oct. 13, 1931:

' p f t 1,826, 77

.EDwAi-m Econ), 01 YORK} NQS L, AssIGN'on T0 GoLncAn HEATING & LIG TIIRG r 7. COMPANY, .onnuw- -YORK, 2,,

' T BQ AI QN Q NEW I c v {keen on mmoenm [A p cation finam go, 1921f Seri a1No. 192 ,848.' Y

' -This intention relates'to improvements in hose or pipe couplers of the type commonly i used to detachably connectthe hose ends or flexible end sectionspfthe train pipes of railway cars] f e 1 It is an object of the i'nyentlon to prov de an improved key lock "for such. couplers which shall be more or less "universal in use,

whereby a coupler; provided f'withthe-improved locking device; may bepcoupled with any one o of a number of {similar standard Y couplers incormnon use "and satisfactorily held in lockedrelation' by theimproyed lock' ing means even though the two fcouplersjjmay- I Vary somewhatas todi nens-iOnsand relative positions 055 the with which the ljockinggelement"cooperatesw" i'* It is a in hen object'i'of the invent'ioni'to provide an improved coupler locking device of the wedge or key type, the relative'pa'rts ofwhich shall "be. so -formed and proper: tioned as to revent the unintendedfseparw tion of the wedge; or key from thek'pa'rt of mentary coupler.

. trated'in the coupler comprisingthe guide oike'y-way when thewedge "or key is driven to its irelease? position, 1 thereby avoiding the o'fthekey." In the preferred form of the device'hierein' disclosed for purposesofillustrationfi H 'Figurel isa top yi'ewofa paiir off'coup'lers having the improved locking device ofthis invention"applied 'thereto.'

Fig. 2 is anIendc "kof P s' Y adapted tor form' part fthe illustrated in 11 and "ective View a key locking den s Each coupler {of t e form closed comprises albody ,or, hea d. portion20', having a neck 21 whiehit may i'be secured to the hoseend or jointed' end section of a p re, e esk n n' '2, be a cam-like, overhanging flange 23 adapted-img ge c with a ;m ike .flange; 24,; pro

Y jecting outwardly frlonythfe side ,ot a comple- The adjacent end ports of, which. are held in a Stat610fIC10$6 communication when they are in. their interlocking. re

e couplers illus' lation, maybe provided wi'th cany'suitable type.

The couplers may be provided with gaskets i forated lugs 26 by means of which they may i be suspended'fro'm .the'carend or other sup o porting structure when-not in use. a

" Couplers ofthe'type herein disclosed are I 7 ii coupled by bringing them together withthje'ir c opposedends inclined up'wardly-sdthatjithe flange of the arrn22 of'each' coupler is slight-j 1y; above the-flange'of the"adjacent projec tion 24 of the'other coupler?) The ends of the couplersare' then lowered;'-each coupler he ing giyena slight movementofrotationg 'the 1 r1ght-hand coupler in a counterclqck ise directionan'd'the left-hand coupler i a'do'ck wisedirection,thereby bringing the cam-like" flanges of"the arms*22 andfprojections 24 i into. an" interlocking relation with'the' two v i gaskets 'heldtightly against each other, in

'positions of mutual registration.- i

The relatiye form andjlojcationjofthe like=flange on each farm 22 and on-eachproection 24; are such as tofpreyent'further' rela tive movement of the couplers when'they-atl tain theirnormal positions with the axes-of their heads orbody portions in alignment, in I which position they are normally maintained 1 I I by theforceof grayity, unlessuncoupledfby "lifting their" ends and imparting rotational movements the reverse of -those'ithroughf which they are turned whe'nbeing coupled. j i

Although; as] above described, the 'force or Y gravity tendsto maintain the couplers i-Ii'thei'r coupled relation, it has been found impracti cable to'depen'd altogether uponsuchin'atural; agency; {since the couplers may 'become" acci:- N V dental'ly uncoupled as result of the-swing ing or swaying motions imparted to the hose '7 ends when, the'carsto which they are "at; 99"

tached are in inotion For-this reasornw'niri- 011s? fastening means have been provided locking device Y which has been used for this -"purpose,' as applied'to'c'ouplers ofthe type .7 herein selected for purposes of illustration,

comprises a wedge or key v27 which may be driven through jakey-way provided therefor in a boss or "housing28 so positionedthatl the exact alignment.

iii

' Fig. 2, is in contact with the surface 81. If the upper surface 81 is in its normal position,

' Couplers and locking "devices of the character thus far generally described are well known in the prior art (see for example, U. S.

Patent 1T0. 1,056,184, issued March '18, 1918, to Frederick '1. Kitchen), and,.o-f themselves, constitute no part of the invention to be protected, which will now be more particularly described. Y

It has been found as a result of experience that the insertion of the wedge or key 27 used on couplers of'the above-described character is sometimes rendered quite (.llifl'Clilt' and is sometimes absolutely prevented if the upper surface of'the locking arm'22 of one coupler immediately opposite the end. of the key-way in the guide or housin g 28 is at a level slightly higher than the bottom of the key-way. Such difierence in level may occur because of dificulty in bringing two coupler heads into It also frequently occurs when a coupler of one make is coupled with a coupler of another standard make but 7 of which the relative proportions and dimensions are slightly different. t is an object of this invention to provide a simple key lock or wedge lock so modified as to be more or less universal in its application and capable of locking various standard couplers of the prior art, notwithstanding slight differences in form and proportion. 7

To this end, the key or wedge 22' of a lock embodying the invention is provided with a locking end 29 which is bent or gradually inclined upwardly so as to provide a cam-like under surface 30. When the key is in its retracted or release position, the end portion of the key assumes a position somewhat higher than and clearof the top surface 31 of the arm 22 of the complementary coupler. Should thesurfac-e 31, therefore, be slightly higher than the under surface of the key-way asindicated at 31 in F 2, the key may be driven to a locking position in which its under surface, indicated in broken lines at '30, in

that is, in the same plane with the under surface of the key-way, the key may be driven to a locking position indicated in full lines in Fig. 2.

t is a further object of the invention to so designthe locking device that the key or wedge may be moved to its release position without being free to be disengaged from the boss or housing which forms the guide.- way. .In the form of the invent-ion herein disclosed, this is accomplished by splitting the ends of the key or wedge as at 32 (Fig. 1) and slightly spreading the outer split portions 33 so as to prevent their withdrawal through the key-way. In order that these outwardly flared portions may not prevent the withdrawal of the key to a position such as will permit the parts of the coupler to be unlocked, the exit end of the boss forming the guide or key-way may he stepped back from the plane of contact between the cou pler, of which the key-way forms a part, and the locking'arm of the complementary coupler, as indicated at 34, thereby providing a recess to receive the flared end portion of the key when driven to its release position.

Fig. 3 illustrates a key adapted for use as a part of the above-described coupler look ing device, the end being split, as at 32, ready to be spread after the key has been inserted in the key-way.

V A pair of couplers provided with the abovedescribed locking devices may be readily coupled if the wedges are'first moved to their release position with their flared end portions in the recess at the exit end of the keyway. After tlie'parts of the coupler heads have been moved to their'normal coupled relati'om'either one of the keys or wedges 27 maybe driven to its locked position so as to cause itscam-like portion to be extended over the upper surface 31 of the adjacent arm 22, thereby preventing the accidental disengagement of the couplers. If desired, both of the keys or wedges may be driven to their effective locking positions.

qVVlIGIl it is desired to detach the couplers, the keys or wedges may be rendered ineifective by drivingthem to their release position with their flared ends inthe recesses at the exit ends of-the key-ways, after which the coupler heads may be disengaged. This disthe slight inclination at the end of the key bywhich it is most conveniently positioned to be loosened-by a slight hammer tap'and the flared ends of the keys prevent the latter from being driven clear through and out of the key-ways, thereby preventing them from being lost. This not only materially reduces the cost of replacement, but afiords an assurance that the key will always be in position ready to be used as a means whereby the couplersmay be locked in their coupled relations without the loss of time in supplying a new key for a lost one.

The invention is not intended to be limited to the specific form herein selected for purposes of illustration but should be regarded as including modifications and variations thereof within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: I

1. A pipe coupler comprising a head having coupling elements whereby it may be engagement of the couplers is facilitated by coupled with a complementary coupler, said head having a key-way 'therein,,and a key capable of being moved through'said key- Way to an eflectiveposition in which its end may be caused to extend over a portion of the complementary coupler and serve as a coupler locking device, said key being split at its extended end a and having portions spread apart to form a stop of 'gradually increasing Width to prevent free vvithdrawal ofthe key from the key-Way, and an interv V vvening portion adapted to receive a blow of a stop to prevent detachment by withdrawal, .7 x the intervening part being adaptedtq, re-

.ceivea hammer blow to release the'key.

other parts of the coupler as topermit the key to be movedto its release position before its movement in the key-Way is obstructed by the stop. i

2. A key for a form of a relatively long slightly tapered Wedge having its smaller'end split into three A parts to facilitate spreading the outwardlydisposed parts adjoiningthe split portion afterinserting the key in a key-Way to form In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed myname.

hose'or. pipe couplin'gin the EDWARD EGOLD; 

